Andrew Eastham

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

The Respondent, admitted in 1980, abused his position as executor of Client A's estate between August 2014 and August 2015 by fraudulently misappropriating approximately £274,462.63. He pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position (s.4 Fraud Act 2006) at Wolverhampton Crown Court and was sentenced to 32 months' imprisonment, later subject to a confiscation order. The SRA relied on the conviction. The Tribunal, dealing with the matter on the papers via an Agreed Outcome, found breaches of Principles 2 and 6 of the SRA Principles 2011 with dishonesty as an aggravating feature, and found no exceptional circumstances. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay £2,355 costs.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty (advanced and admitted as an aggravating feature)
• Criminal conviction for fraud by abuse of position under s.4 Fraud Act 2006
• Abuse of position as executor of Client A's estate
• Misappropriation of approximately £274,462.63

Mitigating factors:

• The Respondent advanced no mitigation in these proceedings